Governor’s rule in Sindh not the solution: Haleem

Opposition leader accuses PPP of using 18th Amendment for personal gains

HYDERABAD:

The opposition leader in Sindh Assembly, Haleem Adil Sheikh, has reiterated that governor’s rule in Sindh will not provide solutions to the problems.

At a press conference in Hyderabad and while addressing supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in other districts, Haleem said only a change supported by the province's people will pave the way for lasting solutions.

He blamed the Sindh government for using the 18th Amendment for its personal gains instead of serving the public's interests.

"The funds for roads, clean drinking water, medicines, books, food, quality of life and environment are all embezzled by the Sindh government," he alleged. "Even the municipal bodies have become a dirty business and the hands of deputy commissioners have been sullied."

He accused the Sindh government of politically victimising him during the past two months in order to silence his voice. Referring to the Sindh chief minister's appearance before the accountability court in Islamabad, he said that the one who made him languish in prison and attend courts is himself attending a court.

Read: Haleem Shaikh released from jail

'Politicised policing'

The opposition leader criticised the Sindh (Repeal of the Police Act 1861 and Revival of Police Order 2002) (Amendment) Act 2019, saying that the amendment had reduced the police force to being slaves of the political government. He said transfers and postings in the force are being made on the basis of political loyalty instead of merit.

Demolitions

He bemoaned that irrigation lands on which farmhouses and other structures of politically influential people are built have been spared of the demolition drives being carried out in Sindh on the apex court's order. Haleem lamented that the provincial government is only razing houses of the poor and the weak in the name of its anti-encroachment operation. "The action should have started with the big land grabbers."

Haleem said that the Centre also wanted to launch the health card scheme in Sindh but the provincial government was not cooperating.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2021.